Zoetis Foundation expands AVMF scholarships to $2.25 million

Zoetis Foundation is putting $2.25 million a year into an expanded scholarship partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, starting in 2026. The program will fund 70 veterinary student scholarships worth $25,000 each and 35 veterinary technician student scholarships worth $10,000 each, a notable increase from the foundation’s earlier technician scholarship support through AVMF. AVMF said the expansion is meant to help students manage rising education costs while supporting careers tied to animal health, public health, and food security. (avmf.org)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is another sign that major industry funders are treating workforce pressure and student debt as business-critical issues, not side concerns. AVMA’s 2025 economic report found average DVM debt for 2024 graduates was $168,979 across all graduates and $202,647 among those with debt, while 38.5% graduated with $200,000 or more in DVM debt. In that context, larger scholarships won’t solve access or retention on their own, but they can meaningfully reduce financial pressure, especially for students weighing lower-paying career paths or for technician students who’ve historically had fewer large-dollar scholarship options. (ebusiness.avma.org)

What to watch: Watch for application uptake this fall, where recipients cluster by school and career interest, and whether Zoetis ties this scholarship expansion to its broader pipeline-building efforts, including a separate $250,000 2026 grant to NAVC’s Believe and Belong in Veterinary Medicine program. (avmf.org)